Abhishek Paul
For the first time in India, scientists from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) have geo-tagged a Ganges River Dolphin. The tagged male dolphin was released into the Kulsi River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra River in Assam’s Kamrup district, marking a major step toward conserving the endangered species.
The tagging aims to gather crucial data on the national aquatic animal of India. It will help scientists understand the dolphin’s migratory patterns, habitat usage, range, and seasonal behaviours, which are vital for developing effective conservation strategies.
Calling it a "historic milestone," Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav stated that the move will significantly enhance knowledge about conserving the Ganges River Dolphin, an iconic but endangered species.
Once abundant, the population of Ganges River Dolphins has declined to less than 2,000 due to habitat loss, overfishing, and direct killings. The species is now critically endangered, with around 90% of its population found in India.
The Kulsi River in the Kamrup district is one of the habitats for river dolphins in Assam. The Assam government also declared the Gangetic River Dolphin as the aquatic animal of the state.
According to sources, several Gangetic River Dolphins were either poached by miscreants or killed accidentally in the Kulsi River system during the past few years. The state forest department has failed to curb the continuous unnatural deaths of river dolphins in the Kulsi River.